A LORRY driver and the company he works for have denied a list of motoring offences following the death of a cyclist in Chester city centre.

The case against Peter Charles Broad, 44, and West Midlands-based Woodall Transport Ltd was mentioned in Chester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The company, which operates from Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, and Broad have entered 'not guilty' pleas by post.

They are jointly charged with three counts of failing to ensure the driver took the minimum weekly rest of 45 consecutive hours after six daily driving periods, on March 14, 20, and 28, using a vehicle or trailer with defective brakes and using a vehicle exceeding maximum weight shown on the manufacturer's plate, both on April 6.

In addition Broad, of Grimley Road, Northfield, Birmingham, is charged with driving without due care and attention on April 6.

The charges stem from an incident in which cyclist Jane Roberts was involved in a collision with a heavy goods vehicle driven by Broad at the junction of the ring road and Lower Watergate Street on April 6.

Mrs Roberts, a Chester City Council plans processing manager, was on her way to work when the accident happened at about 8am.

Her husband Colin, 51, who lived with his wife and their two daughters Emma and Alice in Glan Aber Park, Curzon Park, Chester, descibed Mrs Roberts as 'the rock of the family'.

'She was always there for us. She worked to see the girls get the best - in education, in everything. It is now my intention to carry on doing that,' he said at the time of her death.

Mr Roberts described his wife, an experienced cyclist, as a 'devoted' mother to their daughters and added: 'She will still be there - in the girls.'

The case against Broad and Woodall Transport Ltd, who were not present in court this week, has been adjourned to December 17 when a date for the trial is expected to be fixed.